Russian athletes are banned from competing at the Rio 2016 Paralympics as a result of the doping scandal. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) had suspended the athletes before, and now they have been banned. The Russian Paralympic Committee will take measures. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), however, didn’t support the ban order. IOC wants to fight for the right of the clean athletes.

The Rio 2016 Paralympics will begin on 7th September. About 267 Russian athletes across 18 sports will not be able to participate in the game. According to the IPC president, the anti-doping system in Russia is corrupted. The Russian Paralympic Committee is not able to comply with the anti-doping code, for which the athletes are banned. The doping culture is corrupting the Russian sport. The government doesn’t show any concern for the health and well being of the athletes.

Why was Russia banned?

Russia’s sports ministry manipulated urine samples that were provided by the athletes between 2011 and 2015. 27 samples were identified relating to eight para-sports. Evidence was found that the samples were swapped during the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games.

Which leading Para-athletes will not be able to play?

Many renowned Para-athletes won’t be able to play in this year’s Paralympic games.

Margarita Goncharova (athletics)

She won 100m gold at London 2012. She won silver as part of the Russian 4X100m team in the last year’s Worlds. She was supposed to compete in the 400 m and long jump in this year’s Paralympics.

Evgenii Shvetsov (athletics)

He won three golds in the T36 category at London 2012. He also won silver in the 400m at last year’s Worlds.

Olesya Vladykina (swimming)

She beat Britain’s Claire Cashmore in the SB8 100m breaststroke. Vladykina bit Cashmore in every major competition.

Valerie Shabalina (swimming)

She won three golds at the IPC Swimming Euros that was held recently in Portugal. She set two world records there.

The hunger for medals has ruined the Russian sports culture. Everyone is very disappointed and heartbroken by this incident.